I wrote you by Capt. Kemp,1 and by him returned a cask of your bottled Red streake ^cyder^, which I hope you will recieve in good order.2

I passed this morning in a visit to Sr. John Sinclair Presidt. of the Board of Agriculture,3 and Col. Bentham4 who is preparing for the Establishmt. of a panopticon agreable to the plan delineated in a publication which I once communicated to You—5

The agricultural Society is incorporated with a yearly allowance by Govt. of three thousand pounds a Year— Their plans are extensive they have been singularly industrious, and much has already been done— I enclose you the proposed Plan of their general Report—6 if executed in the Extent and in the Manner intended, it will be the most interesting work of the kind respecting Husbandry which has appeared in any Country—

Sr. John shewed us Sheep of the different Breeds stuffed and prepared in the highest Degree of Perfection— of these drawings are making— models are collecting of the most useful, ^utensils &^ Machines— among them is one for cleaning Grain from the Straw, which by the help of two Horses a Man and a Boy will compleat ^do^ 70 or 80 Bushells pr Day— They begin to be in use among the Farmers, which I consider as a Proof of their answering the Purpose—

Among the Sheep the Teasewater7 is the largest— Sr. John shewed me a Fleece presented to the Board which weighs twenty odd pounds— He tells me they frequently weigh sixty pounds a Quarter—

Advice from Switzerland ^Saxony^ ^he is^ informd. him that the Spanish Breed had been imported there—that they succeeded well, and did not degenerate— They sent him a sample of the Wool— I enclose you a Lock of it— I think this fact interesting it shews that the Fineness of wool depends not less on Breed than on management.8

Sr John has a Farm in Scotland which rented for £300 a Year— it was employed in raising store Cattle, which were ^usually^ sold into England and fattened for the London Market— He swept off ^dismissed^ the Cattle and introduced Sheep— it proved so profitable that ^&^ he is now offered £1200 a Year for it— his flock is 3000—

the Progress of Husbandry in this Country is astonishing— the King patronizes it, and is himself a great Farmer— He has been doing great Things ^much^ in that Way at Windsor

Col. Bentham9 has invented a Number of curious and very useful Machines intended to be introduced into the Panopticon— He shewed us a Model of the Building— it seems admirably calculated for its purposes—

He has a Machine for sawing at once ^from a plank^ the Felley10 of a Wheel to its Form— ^from a plank^ another ^Contrivance^ for cutting it to its proper Length & angle— another for finishing at one Operation the Spoke— another for boring and morticing the Hub— another for driving the Spokes— He has one for turning a circular Saw, for fine ^small^ work— another for making the Mouldings if they may be so called, ^the pieces^ on Sash work— ^was wh. form Sashes— others for working different kinds of Saws^ another ^one^ for sawing Stone ^into many Slabs at once^— another for polishing them— another for plaining boards and taking a Shaving of its full width from one End to the other— &c &c &ca He has patents for these Machines, but as yet they cannot be had ^purchased^— he has a useful one for cutting Corks with incredible Expedition

I dined lately with Govr. Hunter11 from Norfolk Island ^with whom I was last Week in Company^ speaking of its Productions he mentioned that among its ^the^ Birds there were swans that were black, having only a few white Feathers in the wings— They are plenty— one stuffed and well preserved I am told is here— as yet I have not seen it— He also mentioned a wild Flax growing on dry Ground ^upland^ to about near four ^three^ feet high, and good— I do not yet learn that any of the Seed of it is here—

They who have Leisure and a Turn for these things might here acquire much interesting ^ entertaining & some useful^ Information — want of Time represses my Curiosity and will not allow me to pay much attention to objects unconnected with those of my Mission— I am Dr Sir Your affecte. Friend & Servt.

Remember me to Mrs Hobart—& yr. Neighbours at Throggs Neck